The DPR Says About The Figure Of Major General Maruli Simanjuntak, The Son-in-law Of Luhut Panjaitan Who Was Appointed To Be The Kostrad Commander

Maruli Simanjuntak/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - TNI Commander General Andika Perkasa appointed Major General (Mayjen) Maruli Simanjuntak to be the Commander of the Army Strategic Reserve Command (Pangkostrad).

Maruli filled the vacant position after being left by General Dudung Abdurachman who some time ago was promoted to Army Chief of Staff (KSAD).

In a written statement from the TNI Information Center, the appointment of Maruli as Pangkostrad is stated in the Decree of the Position of 328 TNI High Officers number 66 of 2022.

"Pangkostrad is held by Major General TNI Maruli Simanjuntak)," reads an excerpt from a written statement from the TNI Puspen, Saturday, January 22. Prior to his appointment as Pangkostrad, Maruli was the Commander of the IX/Udayana Military Region (Pangdam).

Maruli is also known to be the son-in-law of the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.

In addition to the Kostrad Commander, in the decision, there were 10 high-ranking 3-star officers who were rotated. There are also 28 positions that are included in the new unit in the TNI according to Presidential Regulation No. 66 of 2019 concerning the Organizational Structure of the TNI.

So, what did the DPR say about the figure of Maruli who became the Kostrad Commander?

Member of the House of Representatives Commission I Christina Aryani assessed that Major General (Mayjen) TNI Maruli Simanjuntak was worthy of being the Commander of the Army Strategic Reserve Command (Pangkostrad).

The reason is, according to Christina, the figure of Major General Maruli Simanjuntak has a proven track record in the tasks he has carried out so far.

“In his position as Pangdam XI Udayana, he has performed well, especially regarding budget management, use, and reporting. During my working visit and my colleagues from Commission I to Bali last year, I considered the person concerned to be firm and not adventurous,” said Christina, Sunday, January 23.

The Golkar politician believes the new Pangkostrad will be able to carry out his duties professionally. Moreover, Pangkostrad is a very strategic position.

"We believe the new Pangkostrad will be able to carry out its duties professionally," said Christina.

Christina said that the TNI belongs to the state and the politics it carries out is state politics. She said that the challenges of defense and security in the future are not easy

"So we hope that the new Pangkostrad will be able to manage the challenges well in accordance with its main duties, namely fostering operational readiness of its command line and conducting security operations at a strategic level, in line with the policies and directions of the TNI and KSAD Commanders," she hoped.

Christina added that the appointment of Maruli Simanjuntak ended the vacancy of the Kostrad Commander for more than 2 months and had gone through the proper process at the Council for High Ranks and Positions (Wanjakti).

"We believe that the decision was taken based on careful consideration according to the needs of Kostrad as the main combat command of the TNI AD, in accordance with future defense and security challenges," she concluded.

Meanwhile, Member of Commission I DPR RI Major General TNI (ret) TB Hasanuddin assessed that the appointment of Major General Maruli Simanjuntak as Pangkostrad had gone through careful consideration.

According to him, the transfer and promotion of a high-ranking officer in the TNI has gone through a long process through the Council for High Ranks and Positions (Wanjakti) and is the final decision.

"Of course someone who is promoted has met the requirements, both from his track record, achievements and experience. So we don't need to ask strange things," Hasanuddin told reporters, Sunday, January 23.

The senior politician from the PDI-P (PDIP) said that the TNI certainly has its own mechanism regarding who is the right person to become Pangkostrad.

Hasanuddin appealed that this matter be handed over to the leadership of the TNI, who of course had carried out procedures according to applicable regulations.

"I personally congratulate high-ranking officers who get promotions. Hopefully they are trustworthy," he concluded.